Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Linda, PRG
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About The Book
It was a year of change and healing, heartbreak, and renewal.
On his way to reunite with his First Consort, Lord Teo receives unwelcome news from Chi’NoSa Prime.
He is ordered to return to perform a duty he hoped to be spared.
There is no recourse except obedience.
Raphael, changed from his time spent with the Chi’NoSa, discovers that his gifts set him apart from his peers, causing them to shun him.
As his family and a few friends are the only colonists to support him, Raphael spends much of his time alone, removing himself from the cacophony of other minds.
When the wait for his lord’s return is finally over, Raphael assumes his place on the Golden Falcon, hopeful they can live in harmony as they look for new worlds.
Returning to Chi’NoSa Prime was not part of the plan.
Neither was an unwanted duty.
A duty that would change them both, leading them to a Queen who would ask for their future, and may change the Chi’NoSa and humanity forever. What will they have to give in order to save both their species?
TW: Violence and adult sexual situations.
The Review
This is the final book in this series – the tale of Lord Teo a Chi’NoSa and Raphael Lewis finally comes to an end. It’s a story that began when Raphael was taken captive by Teo, beaten and nearly killed, before the blossoming of a love that would change both men, and eventually both species. A story of change, love, understanding, and forgiveness.
When we left off in book two, Raphael had returned to the Colony while Teo went off to visit his holdings. Teo knew that Raphael had changed him, and he was willing to sever their relationship over it, until he accepted the fact that change was necessary.
Almost a year has now passed, and Raphael anxiously awaits the arrival of his husband, since Teo has named him first consort.
While at the Colony, Raphael realized that he had changed too; his empathic abilities make it possible for him to read others without touching them. This made him an outcast, shunned by all but family and a few friends.
He longs for the day Teo will return to take him home. When that day finally arrives, he learn that they will be going to Chi’NoSa Prime for a mating ritual. Although this ritual is to ensure Teo’s clan survives, it is something neither he nor Raphael are looking forward to. I will not discuss what the ritual entails, but it was not at all what I thought it would be.
The love between Teo and Raphael has grown over the course of the series, and it’s a beautiful thing to see. A love that began with distrust and cruelty, but that over time overcame all their differences and changed both men for the better.
This is a series that must be read in order to really experience every moment as Teo and Raphael first begin to love each other and over time overcome major differences.
I love this series and highly recommend it – a sci-fi romance for the ages.
5 stars.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
